Putin’s attempt to kick the ball back to Europe, seems to be primarily intended to stretch time

According to the German Bondselier Friedrich Merz « The ball now lies with Putin »and indeed: less than a day after a top -heavy European delegation in Kyiv Russia had announced, the Russian president felt compelled to respond.

At half past one in the morning, Putin appeared in front of the cameras and kicked the ball back to the European half of the field with a firm staircase. The Russian president did not respond to the most important requirement that the government leaders of Germany, France, Great Britain and Poland had called Zensky during their visit to the Ukrainian President: an immediate state-fired thirty days. Instead, Putin suggested starting negotiating as quickly as possible. This Thursday, in Istanbul.

Putin did not set any conditions at the start of the discussions, but he also did not give any indication that he is willing to weaken his previously formulated requirements. Russia does not want to give back an occupied territory, does not want Ukraine to become a member of NATO and demands that President Zelensky leaves. Those demands, Putin knows all too well, are not acceptable for KYIV. His proposal to negotiate ‘a sustainable peace’ therefore seem mainly focused on as much delay as possible.

« Not enough »

French President Emmanuel Macron was not impressed. « It’s a first step, but it’s not enough, » said the French president. « An unconditional ceasefire is by definition not preceded by negotiations. » President Zensky said he was willing to go to Istanbul to talk, but that as far as he is concerned, the weapons should remain silent from Monday. « There is no reason to continue the killing for one day. »

An unconditional ceasefire is by definition not preceded by negotiations

For example, the end of the war that had been lingering now is not yet immediately in sight, but the relationships seem to have been somewhat shifted in the past 48 hours. Last Friday, during the traditional victory parade, Putin demonstrated on the red square that he is in no way isolated in the world. Not only Chinese President Xi Jinping, but also the Brazilian President Lula da Silva and the leaders of Serbia and Slovakia were on the Tribune.

Yet Russia is less favorable than it seems. In recent weeks, Washington has made it become clearer and clearer that the US is starting to lose their patience with the Russian leader, who, despite intensive American shuttle diplomacy, still does not seem to make sense. The American strategy to make the Russia to the liking and especially to put pressure on KYIV has not led to a breakthrough in recent months.

Last Sunday Donald Trump held the courage on his Platform Truth Social. « We expect Russia to announce a cease-fire-full, sustainable, reliable-from Monday 12 May, » the American president announced. On Sunday, there was nothing noticeable of those alleged good intentions: the Ukrainian authorities reported Russian drone attacks to Kyiv and other cities, where damage was caused to houses and at least one injured. The question is when for Trump the size is definitively full and the US pulls their hands off the conflict.

European Unity

On the other hand, since Merz’s appointment as Chancellor, Europe seems to have found its voice again. The visit of Merz, Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was a powerful demonstration of European unity. The four government leaders threatened with extra sanctions if Russia would not respond to the call to a file. Now that Trumps attempts to find peace appears to be nothing, Europe is attracting the initiative, and that is not a good news for Putin, who conveniently kept the Americans on the line.

Given the European unity showed, Putin is better to try to keep the Americans on board

How weak the American diplomacy operates became painfully clear by a revelation of the Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who was able to demonstrate with the help of AI that the interpreter translated for the American envoy Steve Witkoff during his last visit to Moscow, An official is from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Europe is very different in the competition. For example, the large European countries have already made it clear that the Russian annexation of Crimea will not be recognized and that there can be no weakening of the Ukrainian forces. Germany, France and the United Kingdom forge a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ from countries that want to deliver troops for a peace force in Ukraine. Last Friday the European government leaders were also present in LVIV, for the establishment of a tribunal that must try the ‘aggression’ of Moscow. Putin, in short, the Americans can keep on board better.

« What is wrong with this, » he said during his speech in the Kremlin About his proposal for direct negotiations with KYIV. « Anyone who is actually for peace cannot possibly not support this. »

Putin is « looking for a way out, » said French President Emmanuel Macron when he got off the train in the Polish Przemysl on Sunday. « But there is always a desire of his side to win time. »

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